A WIDNES man could have suffered lethal head injuries as a result of a road smash as well as from an attack outside a nightclub, a murder trial has heard.

Forensic pathologist Dr Paul Johnson made the claim before a jury sitting at Chester Crown Court in the trial of 20-year-old Liam McCann, of Brunner Street, Widnes, who has been accused of murdering 20-year-old Alan Davies on March 16 this year.

Dr Johnson said a large abrasion on the back of Mr Davies's head was consistent with his head being repeatedly banged on the ground but said it was also consistent with him falling to the ground.

He said: 'The external injuries occurred in both the altercation and the road traffic accident.'

The court heard Mr Davies had suffered injuries when a friend's car which was taking him to hospital had crashed into a wall.

Dr Johnson said Mr Davies had suffered from acute subdural haemorrhage and added he had suffered a significant impact to the front of his head during the road accident.

He said: 'There were more than two impact injuries to the brain.

'The problem in this case is that there were two incidents.

'You can make a circular argument as to whether the injuries were caused during the alleged assault or the crash - or whether it was a combination of both.'

He said it was 'not possible to say whether the injuries were caused during the altercation or the accident.'

Dr Alison Armor, a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on March 20 this year, said she could not give an opinion as to whether 'blunt head trauma' was caused during the altercation or the accident and she was not in a position to say whether it was a combination of both.

But she added: 'There is no doubt that he had been the victim of a serious assault.'